Bi-axially collapsible frame for a child care support article

ABSTRACT

A foldable frame comprising at least an elongate first frame member foldable about an intermediately disposed first folding axis and a pair of second frame members, each foldably connected to portions of the first frame member on opposing ends of the first folding axis. The second frame members are each foldable about respective end axes, but only when the respective end axes are aligned on a second folding axis. Alignment of the end axes on the second folding axis occurs only when the frame is folded to approximately a discrete position about the first folding axis; folding of the second frame members is not enable when the frame is mis-positioned from the discrete position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/686,707 filed on Apr. 14, 2015 which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/958,728 filed on Aug. 5, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,066,607 on Jun. 30, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to portable supports and enclosures for infants and children, and more particularly to a foldable frame that folds about two distinct, non-parallel axes to enable the frame to be collapsed into a comparatively compact space when not in use.

Portability of infant care accessories is an increasingly important consideration among consumers. While collapsible frames are well-known in the art, frames that are easily reconfigured or collapsed into a compact package continue to push manufactures for innovation. Portability often requires complicated articulation and linkage in the supporting frames to enable the frames to be easily collapsed or deployed. Awkwardly reconfigurable frames or latching mechanism and frames requiring significant space when folded do not meet consumer demands. Furthermore, the frames must also be highly resistant to unintended collapse while in use. Consequently, the need to improve portability, compactness, and ease of use of collapsible frames is a growing concern. Many benefits would be realized by a stand-alone folding frame that is conveniently collapsible into a compact form and yet highly resistant to inadvertent collapse when deployed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention, in any of the embodiments described herein, may provide one or more of the following advantages:

It is an object of the present invention to provide a foldable frame for supporting a free-standing infant care accessory. The frame may comprise a plurality of upstanding frame members supporting a plurality of horizontal frame members individually spanning between adjacent upstanding frame members to define a top perimeter frame. The horizontal frame members may include a pair of generally opposing, parallel, and spaced-apart side frame members and a pair of generally opposing end members interconnecting the side frame members. A plurality of generally planar wall panels may span between adjacent upstanding frame members to define side walls of a play yard or similar enclosure. The foldable frame may further comprise a pair of upper frame rails, a lower frame rail, and a pair of end members which join the upper and lower frame rails to form a frame. The end members are preferably spaced-apart to define a longitudinal axis of the frame. The upper and lower frame rails preferably extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis to define a frame length and are pivotally connected at each end to the end members to enable pivoting of the frame rails about transverse axes generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The upper frame rails may have a fixed length between the pivoting connections. The lower frame rails may incorporate telescoping sections enabling the length between the pivoting connections to be varied. The ability to shorten the lower frame rails length allows the end members to pivot inwardly toward the upper frame rails and the lower frame rails are moved toward the upper frame rails.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a foldable frame that is foldable about at least two axes wherein a first folding axis is generally transverse to a second folding axis. The frame comprises two discrete folding portions that are aligned for folding about the second axis only when the frame is folded into a discrete position about the first folding axis. The frame may include multiple frame portions (e.g., end members), each including a folding joint with respective third and more folding axes, all of which are transversely arranged to the first folding axis. Folding about the second and beyond axes is not possible when the frame is not positioned in the discrete position as the folding axes of the individual folding portions are not aligned.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foldable frame capable of collapsing by folding about at least two axes, a first being generally transverse to the length of the frame and a second being generally parallel to the length of the accessory frame. Movement about the first axis aligns pivots of the second axis to allow the pivoting about the second axis in a first pivotal position and inhibit pivoting about the second axis when not in the first pivotal position.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a foldable frame capable of collapsing by folding about at least two axes that is durable in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, carefree of maintenance, easily assembled, and simple and effective to use.

These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a foldable frame comprising at least an elongate first frame member foldable about an intermediately disposed first folding axis and a pair of second frame members, each foldably connected to portions of the first frame member on opposing ends of the first folding axis. The second frame members are each foldable about respective end axes, but only when the respective end axes are aligned on a second folding axis. Alignment of the end axes on the second folding axis occurs only when the frame is folded to approximately a discrete position about the first folding axis; folding of the second frame members is not enable when the frame is mis-positioned from the discrete position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplar collapsible frame for a child supporting article shown in an unfolded configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collapsible frame of FIG. 1 shown in a first partially folded configuration;

FIG. 3 a perspective view of a collapsible frame of FIG. 1 shown in a second partially folded configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a collapsible frame of FIG. 1 shown in a fully folded configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second exemplar collapsible frame shown in a deployed or unfolded configuration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a collapsible frame of FIG. 5 shown in a partially folded configuration;

FIG. 7 perspective view of a collapsible frame of FIG. 5 shown in a fully folded configuration; and

FIG. 8 an alternate view of the fully folded collapsible frame shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Many of the fastening, connection, processes and other means and components utilized in this invention are widely known and used in the field of the invention described, and their exact nature or type is not necessary for an understanding and use of the invention by a person skilled in the art, and they will not therefore be discussed in significant detail. Also, any reference herein to the terms “up” or “down,” or “top” or “bottom” are used as a matter of mere convenience, and are determined as the foldable frame would normally rest on the floor or a similarly level surface. Furthermore, the various components shown or described herein for any specific application of this invention can be varied or altered as anticipated by this invention and the practice of a specific application of any element may already be widely known or used in the art by persons skilled in the art and each will likewise not therefore be discussed in significant detail. When referring to the figures, like parts are numbered the same in all figures.

This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/686,707 filed on Apr. 14, 2015 which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/958,728 filed on Aug. 5, 2013 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,066,607 on Jun. 30, 2015 which provide background on foldable play yard frames. The descriptive portions of these applications is incorporated herein by reference.

For purposes of clarity, the foldable frame is shown in the figures with soft goods and covers removed to better illustrate the relationship and degrees of motion of the frame members and related components.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, an exemplary foldable frame 10 is shown in comprising an upper frame 20 having a first portion 22 and a second portion 24 pivotally coupled by a first folding joint 26 and movable between an opened configuration (FIG. 1) and a generally opposing collapsed configuration (shown partially collapsed in FIG. 4) about a first folding axis 110. In the opened configuration, the upper frame defines a generally planar structure with a length and a width suitable for supporting soft goods or the like which can be used to support and contain a small child or other articles conveniently. The upper frame 20 may include one or more first folding joints 26 depending upon the configuration of the upper frame 20 to permit the first and second portions to be moved into the collapsed configuration and position the respective first and second portions 22, 24 in an adjacently parallel arrangement thereby reducing the length or width by up to approximately one-half. Multiple first folding joints may be provided to enable further reduction of the length or width when the frame is collapsed.

To the upper frame 20 is connected at least one second frame member 30. The connection of the second frame member to the upper frame comprises first and second hinged connectors 32, 34 which enable the second frame member 30 to be foldably moved about a hinge axis 100 relative to the upper frame member 20 when the upper frame is in the opened configuration. The hinge axis 100 is transversely oriented to the first folding axis 110. Movement of the second frame member 30 may range between an unfolded configuration (FIG. 1) and a folded configuration (FIG. 2). Additional second frame members 30 may be included as necessary to stably support the upper frame on a surface. It is preferable to provide a second frame member at opposite ends of the upper frame.

Each second frame member 30 further includes a second folding joint 36 enabling folding movement of the second frame member about a second folding axis 120. However, movement about second folding axis 120 is only possible when the second folding axis 120 is aligned in parallel to the first folding axis 110 which is accomplished by folding the second portion 30 about the folding axis 100. Movement about the first and second folding axes, when aligned, ranges from the opened configuration (FIG. 1) and the collapsed configuration (FIG. 3), and is preferably approximately 180 degrees.

From the opened configuration shown in FIG. 1, collapsing the frame 10 requires repositioning the second frame member 30 by folding it inwardly about hinge axis 100 to a point at which the second frame member 30 is generally parallel to the upper frame member 20 (arrow “A”, FIG. 2). This movement realigns the second folding axis 120 from an alignment generally transverse to the first folding axis 110 to one that is generally parallel thereto. With the first and second folding axes 110, 120 generally aligned, the frame may be folded about the first folding axis 110 to further reduce its width dimension. Doing so misaligns the first and second hinged connectors 32, 34 so that they are no longer co-axial on hinge axis 100 thereby preventing the second frame member from being returned to the opened configuration which aid in retaining the frame in a folded configuration. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the non-colinear hinge axis portions are shown as 100 a and 100 b. Further folding movement of the first and second portions 22, 24 about first folding axis 110 (FIG. 4, arrow “B”) repositions the first and second portions into a generally parallel and adjacent arrangement.

From the collapsed configuration, opening the frame 10 requires repositioning the upper frame 20 by unfolding the frame, pivoting about axis 110 until the upper frame 20 is returned to its generally planar configuration and the hinged connectors 32, 34 are both positioned for hinged movement on shared hinge axis 100. The second frame portion 30 may then be pivoted about hinge axis 100 to return the second frame portion to the unfolded configuration (FIG. 1).

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, a second exemplar folding frame 10 is illustrated incorporating additional features to permit compact folding. In this embodiment, the first folding joints 26 may further include one of more pivots 28 a, 28 b to enable the upper frame 20 to be folded 180 degrees without interference between the first and second frame portions 22, 24. When multiple pivots 28 a, 28 b are employed, the first folding axis 110 may be shifted parallel to and offset from the pivot axes 110 a, 110 b of each individual pivot 28 a, 28 b. Collapsing the frame requires the second folding axis 120 to be generally aligned with the first folding axis. Flexibility in the frame members and the joints permits the frame to be folded about the second folding axis even though the second folding axis 120 may not be precisely aligned with the first folding axis 110. The second folding axis 120 will be parallel to but may be slightly offset from the individual pivot axes 110 a, 110 b while still enabling folding about the second folding axis.

The second folding axis 120 in second folding joints 36 may be offset from the nominal centerline of the second frame members 30. The extent of the offset depends upon the orientation of the second frame member 30 when it is repositioned into the folded configuration (FIG. 6) necessary to align the second folding axis generally parallel to the first folding axis 110 and minimize the displacement therefrom. If the separation between the first and second folding axes 110, 120 is too great when the second frame portion 30 is configured for folding, the folding movement to collapse the frame 10 about the first and second folding axes 110, 120 will be inhibited as the second frame portions 30 bind against the restraint provided by the hinged connectors 32, 34. Limited flexibility in the frame members as well as the pivot connections permits folding to occur despite slight misalignments in the folding axes.

The folding frame may also be provided with one or more legs 40 coupled to the second frame member 30 to support the upper frame 20 at a desired height above a surface 5 to provide convenient access for a user. Placement of the legs 40 generally requires the inclusion of multiple pivot locations (articulated joints) in the first folding joints 26 to position the legs properly when folded. Asymmetric legs may also be utilized to “nest” the legs when folded.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but it can also be modified in many ways without departing from the basic concepts. Changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention. The foregoing description illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however, concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A foldable frame comprising: a first frame member; a second frame member pivotally connected to the first frame member for movement about a first folding axis between folded and unfolded orientations; a second folding joint disposed in the first frame member, the second folding joint having a second folding axis; and a third folding joint disposed in the second frame member, the third folding joint having a third folding axis, folding movement of the second and third folding joints being enabled by movement of the second frame member to the folded position which generally aligns the second and third folding axes, movement of the second and third folding joints being prevented by movement of the second frame member away from the folded position which mis-aligns the second and third folding axes.
 2. The foldable frame of claim 1, wherein the second and third folding axes are transversely arranged in relation to the first folding axis.
 3. The foldable frame of claim 2, wherein the first frame member defines a perimeter having a width dimension and the second folding joint is configured to permit orientation of the first frame member which substantially reduces the width dimension.
 4. The foldable frame of claim 3, wherein the length dimension is reduced by approximately half when the first frame member is folded about the second folding joint.
 5. The foldable frame of claim 1, wherein the second frame member comprises at least one leg for supporting the foldable frame above a surface.
 6. A foldable frame comprising: a first frame member; a second frame member pivotally connected to the first frame member for movement about a first folding axis between folded and unfolded orientations; a second folding joint disposed in the first frame member, the second folding joint having a second folding axis transverse to the first folding axis; and a third folding joint disposed in the second frame member, the third folding joint having a third folding axis transverse to the first folding axis, folding movement of the second and third folding joints being prevented by positioning the second frame member in the unfolded orientation in which the second and third folding axes are mis-aligned to inhibit rotational movement about either the second or the third folding axis.
 7. The foldable frame of claim 6, wherein the first frame member defines a length dimension and a width dimension and the second folding joint is configured to permit orientation of the first frame member which substantially reduces the length or width dimension.
 8. The foldable frame of claim 7, wherein the second frame member comprises at least one leg for supporting the foldable frame above a surface.
 9. The foldable frame of claim 6, wherein the second folding joint comprises one or more movable pivots each arranged for pivoting movement about pivot axes aligned parallel to the second folding axis.
 10. The foldable frame of claim 6, wherein the third folding joint comprises one or more movable pivots each arranged for pivoting movement about pivot axes aligned parallel to the third folding axis. 